| FAQ's
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When were you founded?
May 2002 |
What kind of training have you had?
I was certified to train pet dogs in 1999. This certification was in puppy
socialization and training, behavior modification, basic obedience and
advanced obedience training. In 2002, I spent the summer at the Assistance
Dog Institute where I was taught and certified by Dr. Bonita Bergin (the
founder of Canine Companions for Independence) to train and place service
dogs. Dr. Bergin also certified me to teach the High-Schooled Assistance
Dog Program.
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Why
focus on matching your dogs with children with autism
or developmental disabilities?
Many families of children with autism and other developmental delays have
said they rarely leave their homes to go in public with their children. These
children can become over stimulated by the different sights, sounds, smells
and situations causing a "meltdown." The service dog has a calming
effect.
The dogs also provide extra safety for these children
who might otherwise run away from their parents in public
settings. Our dogs are trained to prevent a child from
running away because they are attached to the child with
a belt system and, when commanded, will stop and in turn
cause the child to stop.
Another important service our dogs provide is to increase
a child's ability to bond. Many children with developmental
disabilities shrink from socializing with others. Our dogs
provide unconditional love, fostering a bond that allows
the child to in turn bond with people.
Finally, we have noticed increased verbal skills in children
who have service dogs. |
What
are the criteria for matching a child with a dog?
• The child must be between the ages of 2 and 12 at the time of application.
• The child must have been exposed and socialized to large dogs in the past
and demonstrate a positive attitude toward dogs.
• There must be one dedicated caregiver that stays home during the week
if the child is not yet in school. The dog must bond with one adult caregiver
and the child, not multiple adult caregivers.
• The family must have time to devote to the adjustment of adding a service
dog to their lives.
• There can be no other family dog in the house at the time of client-dog
team training.
• The family must have the ability to provide a fenced yard or other way
to contain the dog when in the yard, as well as the means to provide the dog
with proper food, veterinary care and sufficient exercise.
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What if a child is afraid of dogs?
Children who are afraid of dogs have difficulty developing a working partnership
with a service dog. Prior to applying with our program, introduce your child
to dogs you know to be gentle and calm. Allow your child several opportunities
to interact with these dogs. If your child remains frightened, a service dog
is not appropriate. |
What if someone in the family is allergic to dogs?
We train Labrador Retrievers, who are known for shedding, as service dogs. If
allergies are a concern, you must determine for yourself, with the help of your
healthcare provider, what you are willing to do to manage the allergy. If however,
the child you are trying to obtain a dog for is allergic, a service dog is not
suitable because of their constant, close proximity to the dog. |
Who
is the dog's primary handler?
The dog is handled by an adult caregiver who is responsible for both the
child and dog. The dog's service work will be reinforced by this adult to
ensure the dog will be responsive to the commands. |
Where does
the dog sleep?
The dog will sleep in the bedroom with the child. A dog bed may be placed beside
the child's bed or the dog may sleep with the child, at the discretion of the
family. |
What is the
dog's relationship to brothers and sisters in the family?
A service dog has a specific role to play with one member of the family. The
siblings must be taught this dog is a working dog and his or her job is to bond
and work with the designated child. Many special needs children, particularly
those with autism, will demonstrate less social initiative than their siblings.
Thus the other children in the home must withhold their attention and affection
from the dog to support the dog's bonding with the designated child. |
Can the service
dog be left alone?
Service dogs are carefully socialized so they can function well in various public
settings. They will require continued social exposure to maintain their comfort
in such settings; therefore, it is essential the family maintain regular public
exposure. When this is not possible, service dogs can be left in an appropriate-sized
crate or loose in the home for short periods of time. |
What are the
exercise requirements for the dog?
Our dogs need at least an hour of daily exercise. A long walk along with some
unstructured outdoor time in a fenced yard, or simply throwing a ball, Frisbee
or toy for the dog can provide sufficient daily exercise. |
What are the
grooming requirements for the dog?
Labs shed regularly and copiously during the spring season. Daily brushing is
an important part of the grooming routine, as is daily brushing of teeth. Dogs
should be bathed monthly and their toenails trimmed every four to six weeks. |
Can there be
other pets in the home?
Yes, other pets may be present in the home. Small animals, birds, cats, reptiles
and fish do not generally inhibit a service dog's ability to work. Pet dogs,
on the other hand, can seriously impact the success of a service dog. |
How long will
the dog work with a child?
What happens to the dog when he or she is retired?
A typical service dog will work until he or she is eight to 10 years old. At
this point, it has had a full six to eight years or more of service to an individual
and is ready for a well-deserved retirement. At this point, most families opt
to retire the dog and keep him or her as a pet. |
What should
I expect to spend to keep the dog each year?
You can expect to spend approximately $700 per year on your dog's annual care
including vaccinations, heart-worm medication and food. Food expenses vary but
should be about $40 per month. |
Where are service
dogs permitted outside the home?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals accompanied by a service
dog cannot be denied service or access to public places. This includes restaurants,
grocery stores, movie theaters, zoos, hotels, public transportation, churches,
libraries, sporting events, casinos, concerts and all other public venues even
is the establishment is privately owned. |
Please
explain your different dog acquisition programs.
Working Class Dogs, Inc. offers two service dog program
options for children with autism or developmental disabilities.
- The first option is to obtain a pre-trained service
dog from us. We select, raise, and train a pup for
you in a manner that readies them for a service dog
career. During this process we continually screen for
the pup for temperament, behavior, and health issues
that may prevent a dog from becoming a successful working
dog. We provide all of the growing dog’s health
care, spay/neuter, and perform health screening for
thyroid, hips, elbows, heart, etc. Once the dog is
trained, health-screened, and mature enough to be a
working dog, the family attends a two-week-long class
to learn to work with their new service dog. There
are two important factors in considering this approach:
- First, there is an approximate 18- to 24-month
waiting period to acquire a pre-trained dog. Some
families find this too long to wait.
- Second, the cost to us is approximately
$16,000 from start to finish. Thus, we ask our clients
to assist us in the fundraising to cover the cost
of the dog. This is necessary because training service
dogs for children with autism and developmental delays
is a relatively innovative service, and we are a
grassroots organization, therefore, obtaining funding
is difficult. Guide, Mobility, and Hearing dogs provide
obvious services to their partners. Dogs trained
for these kids encourage emotionality and cognition,
as seen in our testimonials. While having a child
finally make eye contact, say, “I love you,” string
words together to make sentences when talking to
their dog; or sleep through the night on her own
are miracles to us; but only we, who know and love
these children can fully comprehend the dog’s
impact. It is our experience that folks are more
likely to contribute when they hear from the families
themselves; hearing it from us is simply not enough.
But fundraising is time consuming and often intimidating
for families. So given difficulties of the extensive
waiting period and fundraising efforts, we offer
a second option.
- The second option we provide is to teach the family
to select, raise, and train a pup themselves under
our tutelage; similar to the High-Schooled-Assistance
Dog Program. Once enrolled in this program, the family
member designated to work with the dog attends an extensive
group orientation to learn selection, puppy care and
handling, and beginning training methods. Next, a pup
is selected and brought home to begin immediately bonding
with the child; and a two-week-long intensive training
course is scheduled. The designated trainer attends
the course with the pup and learns all of the theory,
methodology, handling, and socialization skills necessary
to raise train the pup. After the training course we
are available for a reasonable amount of continued
support throughout the pup’s training. And once
the dog is physically and emotionally mature enough
to be certified, the trainer/handler returns for testing
and certification. The benefit of this program is first,
there is no waiting period to bring the pup into your
home. Second, the cost is a fraction of that for a
pre-trained dog.
- An important factor in considering this
approach is that the family is entirely responsible
for the destiny of this dog. No pup in any training
program can be guaranteed to grow to become a certified
service dog. Research has shown that 70% of the dog’s
success is based on the pup’s temperament or
personality; 20% is based on compliance with raising,
training, and handling methods; and 10% is end user
handling. Thus, finding the right dog and complying
with our instruction is critical to your success.
Commitment is essential.
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How do I
apply for a service dog?
Potential clients must first submit a letter or email explaining the nature
of their child's disability and how they feel a dog would help the child in
her or her daily life. Upon receipt of this letter, Working Class Dogs will
decide if a service dog may improve the child's quality of life. If so, an
application will be sent to the family. The application includes:
• An application form
• Two medical history forms to be completed by two healthcare providers
(medical doctor, therapist, etc.)
• A letter from each parent showing they agree with and support the decision
to get a dog
• Two letters of reference (personal and professional from people involved
in the child's life)
• A $25 application processing fee
Once the completed application is processed, the client
will receive a letter acknowledging receipt of the application
along with additional paperwork to further assist us in
meeting your child's needs.
Next, an interview will be set up with your family at which
time we will allow a dog to meet your child as well as discuss
any further questions or concerns and decide which approach
best suits your family. Final acceptance is determined following
this interview. Then the search for the ideal dog begins.
If necessary, the family is provided a fundraising kit. |
How are the
children and dogs matched?
Each dog is matched with a child based on the child's needs, the child and dog's
personalities, the size of each and the activity levels of each. |
Does a family
have input into the gender or specific dog for the child?
For a pre-trained dog, you may request a certain gender of dog during the interview
stage, however, it is not always possible to accommodate your request. |
What type of
training will the pre-trained dog have when it comes into
my family?
How old will it be?
A typical service dog is 18 months to 2 years old when it makes the transition
from training to living with the child and family. At this point the dog has
had a happy, sociable puppy-hood and has also completed a six-month specialized
service dog training program with Working Class Dogs staff while living in our
training center. Preparatory training culminates in a two-week team training
with the new family. |
Must a family
fundraise the full $16,000 before a child can receive his
or her dog?
Working Class Dogs asks families to assist with the fundraising for their dog
over an 18 to 24 month period. We work with you to ensure success. If, however,
a family falls short of their target, they will not be disqualified from receiving
their dog. |
How can I help
Working Class Dogs?
We always are in need of volunteers. Immediate needs also include a new vehicle
to transport dogs to the vet and on field trips, office supplies, blankets and
towels and Canidae dog food. |
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